Original German Kennkarte 1942 – Civilian Identity Card from Leonberg

Description

This original German Kennkarte is a civilian identity document issued in Leonberg during the Second World War period. The piece is catalogued as DOC137 and represents an interesting example of German wartime civil documentation, combining printed administrative structure, handwritten personal data, official stamps and the characteristic “Deutsches Reich Kennkarte” cover. Unlike medals or purely military awards, a German Kennkarte offers a direct view into the everyday bureaucracy of the period, showing how identity, residence, occupation and personal registration were recorded by local authorities.

The cover displays the printed title “Deutsches Reich Kennkarte” in Gothic-style lettering, together with the period state eagle emblem. The exterior has a light-coloured textile or paper-covered finish, with visible age toning, handling marks and fold lines consistent with an original paper identity document of the 1940s. The reverse cover appears plain, with a small printed production code visible in the lower corner. The overall presentation remains attractive for display, especially for collectors who focus on original WWII documents, civilian identity cards, administrative papers and historical archives.

Inside, the Kennkarte contains several handwritten entries. The issuing location appears as Leonberg, with Kennnummer A 3140. The document appears to have been issued on 27 July 1942 and was valid until 27 July 1947. The personal details identify the holder as Luise Sofie Hilber, born on 6 May 1921, with the birthplace appearing to read Enzberg, Kreis Vaihingen/E. Her occupation is written as Kaufmannsgehilfin, meaning a commercial or shop assistant. The card also includes fields for distinguishing marks, which appear to be marked as “fehlen”, meaning none recorded.

One particularly interesting aspect of this German Kennkarte is the presence of fingerprint sections for the right and left index fingers. The document shows fingerprint impressions, official circular stamps and the signature area. The photograph field appears to be blank, which makes the document especially notable from a collector’s perspective, as it preserves the administrative layout while still showing the identification and registration procedure through handwritten details, stamps and fingerprints. The signature area appears to include “Rexer geb. Hilber Luise”, suggesting the holder may have later used the married surname Rexer while retaining the maiden name Hilber in the record.

From a collecting point of view, this German Kennkarte is valuable not because of propaganda content, but because it is a surviving personal document connected to civil life in wartime Germany. Items like this help illustrate the administrative systems, regional registration practices and everyday documentary culture of the 1940s. It is suitable for collectors of original identity papers, WWII civilian documents, German administrative records, genealogy-related material and historical paper ephemera.

The condition is consistent with age and use. There are visible fold lines, light staining, surface marks, small signs of wear to the cover and natural toning to the paper. The internal pages remain legible, with clear printed fields, handwritten entries and visible official stamps. As with many original period documents, the item should be handled carefully and stored in an acid-free sleeve or archival folder, away from direct sunlight, humidity and plastic materials that are not suitable for long-term paper preservation.

This original German Kennkarte is offered exclusively as a historical collectible for study, documentation, preservation and research. It is not offered with any political, ideological or extremist intention. The purpose of this listing is to describe and preserve an original historical document as part of the material record of the Second World War era. For collectors seeking authentic paper items with personal identity details, official stamps and a clear administrative context, DOC137 is a strong and visually interesting example of a German Kennkarte from 1942.